Modern Delhi

Role in India	General Patterns of Land Use
Development of Infrastructure	~~~

Role in India

~ Center of Government

Following Delhi's independence in 1947, Delhi remained the capital of India. The buildings of New Delhi illustrate the city's role as center of government. They were designed by an English architect and have a domineering style, large and spacious.

~ Educational Center

Delhi is home to several institutions of education. Those are not limited to:

• Laday Hardinage Medical College
• Maulana Azad Medical college
• Delhi College
• Dayal Singh College
• University of Delhi
• Indian Institute of Technology

~ Cultural Center

Delhi is important to culture in northern India. The metropolitan area is filled with structures of historical importance. For example, the Qutab Minar, the Red Fort, the Old Fort. The city also contains buildings such as the National Museum, the National Gallery of Modern Art, the Nehru Memeorial Museum and Library, Triveni Arts Centre, and Shri Ram Centre for Arts and Culture.

Throughout the year, Delhi hosts many national festls and seven major cultural festivals.

~ Economic Center

Traditional	Modern Industry	Service
handwoven textiles	electronic and engineering goods	public administration
carved ivory	automobile parts	professional occupations
miniature paintings	precision instruments	personal, domestic and unskilled labor
jewelry	sports apparel
papier-mache	leather goods
	chemicals
	machinery

Traditional economic practices can be found in the older parts of the metropolitan area as well as in the slum settlements. For example, small scale manufacturing and traditional crafts are located throughout Old Delhi.

Modern industry has grown significantly since India's independence. By the late 1980s, 650,000 people were employed in the manufacturing of electronic equipment, clothing, and chemicals. Manufacturing takes place in two main areas: Najatgarh Marg in the west and Mathura Marg in the south.

Tourism is also an important aspect of Delhi as an economic center. The development of infrastructure makes the metropolitan area suited for hosting both national and international events.

~ Transportation Hub

Delhi is well connected to transportation networks in India. With Indira Gandhi International Airport, an important rail center, and with the convergence of five national highways, Delhi acts as the gateway to North India. Buses traveling throughout India have a main terminal near Delhi Railway Station.

Development of Infrastructure

1864 Onset of modern western-style city planning by British.

1880s British continue improvements by adding piped water and proper sewege.

1901Electric lighting is introduced to the city.

1902 System of trams added to city transport.

1911 Lutyens begins plans for the British capital city of New Delhi

1955 Delhi Development Authority becomes the first official Indian planning authority in Delhi.

1961

• DDA developes plots of land and accumulates capital by selling plots to upper class individuals (lower classes can not afford land/construction in Delhi)
• DDA creates Master Plan which failed because the satellite towns were dependent on Delhi and added stress to Delhi's economic and structural growth. The 1961 plan was to:

1. Build two ring roads

2. Build a national highway along theYamuna River

3. Build several other major roads

4. Decrease the density of Old Delhi and increase the density of New Delhi

5. Expand Connaught Place

6. Build 1 mile wide greenbelt surrounding the city

Services

In the modern metro area, municipal services such as water and electricty are disproportionately distributed. Water, ironically, is in plentiful supply for fountains and canals in the garden city of New Delhi while residents of slums lack fresh water and proper sewege.

Transportation whithin delhi is conjested due to slow traffic which predominantly consists of bicycles, bullock carts, and pedicabs. The city's bus system is very crowded. Metered taxis are available, but auto rickshaws are better means of cheap negotiation through the city.

Attempts have been made to ease traffic conjestion. However, the widening of roads and construction of bypasses have failed to mitigate problems. The nature of slow traffic in India makes alleviation of traffic conjestion a difficult task.

General Patterns of Land Use

Land Use in Delhi, like in other developing countries, is mixed. However, major areas of a few types of land use can be identified.

Administrative

• Central Vista Park of New Delhi
• Old Secretariat in Civil Lines of north Old Delhi
• Offices in Indraprastha in the east

Commercial There are several shopping areas and markets throughout Delhi. Four major areas of commerce include:

• Chandni Chowk and Khari Baoli in the north
• Sadar Bazaar in Old Delhi
• Ajmal Khan Marg in western Delhi
• Connaught Place of New Delhi

Industrial

• Najatgarh Marg in the west
• Mathura Marg in the south

Residential There are three main types of residential areas in Delhi. They are:

• Traditional housing ~ makes up 20.9% of households and is found mostly in the old city
• Unauthorized colonies ~ makes up 18.7% of households, about 1200 illegal or unregistered colonies that have little or no utilities or services
• Jhuggies or Slums ~ account for about 150,000 households in Delhi, they are found in marginial land near roadsides or railways, slums have no public utilities or services unless they have been illegally acquired

Green Space Green space is found mostly along the edges of Delhi and New Delhi. A large piece of green space is located to the west and of Central Vista Park and Connaught Circle. Green space is also found south of New Delhi. For example, Delhi Golf Course, a racecourse, and zoological park are located south of the British built Central Vista Park. Other green spaces include parks located in the north of Old Delhi and parks surrounding historical spaces such as the Red Fort.

Mughal Gardens behind Presidential Palace of Central Vista Park

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